Bible Study Online Article
Isaac had reached a point in his life where he felt like the end was nearing. He was now one-hundred and thirty-seven years of age, which was the same age that his older brother Ishmael was when he had passed away. So Isaac decides to send his oldest son Esau, out on an errand, and lets him know that there's a special blessing that he wants to speak into his life: "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons -- your quiver (sword) and bow, and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. "Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." Isaac would tell Esau. But there is one question that comes to my mind, when I entered into the scene between these two men. Did Isaac know that Esau had traded away his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew? I feel like this is important to know, for the simple fact that the Abrahamic Covenant, is a divine inheritance that God had promised that would be bestowed on Abraham and his seed: "Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." (Genesis 26:3-5) This is what Esau had traded away for one weak moment of hunger. But I think Esau saw his inheritance only in a natural sense, which had severely limited his vision, when it came to what he would actually inherit from his father -- if he would have kept his birthright. At the time that Esau traded away his birthright, the land that he was going to inherit, was experiencing a severe famine. So at that time, his inheritance didn't seem like much to him according to his natural senses. But things would change in a big way after Esau had traded away his inheritance, and now it's possible, that Esau was now second-guessing his foolish decision. This could also be the reason why he was hanging around his father a lot more, as Isaac entered his final stages of his life. Now I believe that Isaac did know, that his son had done this foolish thing and now he feels that since his time is coming to a close, he will try one last ditch-effort to get Esau back under the Abrahamic Covenant. This is a crucial move on Isaac's part, for he is willing to try and out maneuver God, in regards to the destinies that the Lord had already planned out for the two boys: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older [Esau] will serve the younger [Jacob]." (Genesis 25:23) The reason why I keep pressing on this issue, when it comes to if Isaac knew what Esau had done, when it came to his birthright? Because if this was the case (in which I do think), this clearly shows us; how our emotions and feelings, that we have for the people; that are close in our lives -- could blind us to what we know is right, and lead us down a wrongful-path. These are the type of things, that could lead us into traps and snares; that could land us in a position, to where we are going against God's will. These types of decisions, will bring us no rewards by going against God; but we find that, we can easily be in this type of situation -- when we don't trust God, and we allow ourselves, to be constantly led by our hearts. I believe that this is how Isaac was led into making the decisions that he had made. Not to try to defy God, but trying to save his son from the awful mistakes that he kept making. Isaac was a good man, who at this point in his life was blinded by his emotions and feelings -- that he held for his son Esau. We must also remember, that these are not the only things in which he was blinded by; it was at this time, that Isaac's natural eyesight was very weak, and he could not see with his natural eyes either. This is a condition, that I believe God had allowed Isaac to endure at this time in his life, that would keep him from making a terrible mistake against God. For the Lord knew, that Isaac would be easily led by his emotions and feelings when it came to his son Esau. Normally when we get to this part of the account, teachers and preachers jump immediately to Rebekah and Jacob, in which they begin to talk about how Isaac was deceived. But what I want to point out, is that Rebekah and Jacob wasn't the only one's who was found to be at fault -- when we come to this point in their lives. As you can see, when we explore the Sacred Scriptures a little bit deeper, we find that Isaac himself, is planning to try to out maneuver God when it comes to his son Esau. **YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright 31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine 33) The Envious King Abimelech 37) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception 40) Deceitful Hearts 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. 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